Chronological monitor for use with coin-controlled or other machines.



No. 766,995. PATENTD AUG. 9, 1904.

` P. P. GORIN. CHRONLOGIAL MONITOR FR USB WITH GOIN CONTROLLED 0R OTHERMAGHNES.

` APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 30, 190s.

,no MODEL.

sfrvJiJr. util... t1

JM! Fllfll UNITED STATEs Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

FRED 1). GORIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 766,995, dated August9, 1904.

Application filed September 30, 1903. Serial No. 175.146. (No model.)

To 1J/Z whom. it may con/ecrit:

Be it known that I, FRED 1). Gonm, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county oi" Cook and State of illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Chronological Monitor` for Use in Connectionwith Coin- Controlled Machines and for other Purposes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a chronological monitor for use in connectionwith coin-controlled machines and for other purposes.

In many forms oi' coincontrolled apparatus-such, for instance, asresidence or business telephones-it is a common practice to rent themachines subject to the payment of a minimum amount oi toll for a givenperiod o1 time. For instance, in the case oi' telephones the desiredcircuit connections are made upon the deposit oi' a coin, such aiive-cent piece or a ten-cent piece or other token, the telephonecompany collecting the coins or tokens so deposited periodically--A--sayonce each month-on which occasions the coins or tokens deposited duringthe preceding period must at least equal the minimum amount oi? the tollor rental charges :For the use of the telephone. 1t frequently happensthat a subscriber has not used the telephone or deposited coins ortokens to the extent of the minif mum required within the given period.The difference is required to be made up in cash by the subscriber. italso frequently happens that the subscriber keeps no record of thenumber of times the instrument is used, and consequently deposits coinsor tokens in greater amount than is required 'lor the mini- ,mum, theexcess going to the telephone company. 1t is a source of annoyance andtrouble to attempt to keep an accurate record olf' the number o'i' timesthe telephone has been used within the given period, and consequentl y asubscriber at the end of the period and without any accurate recordbeing kept is liable to be called on to make up in cash the differencebetween the amount of coins or tokens deposited and the minimum amountrequired, whereas he might have used the telephone a greater number oi'times during the period if he had known that the number of coins ortokens deposited was below the minimum amount re quired. On the otherhand, without a record being kept the subscriber is liable to use thetelephone more lavishly than is necessary, and hence deposit a greaternumber oi' coins or tokens than is necessary to make up the minimumamount required.

1t is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide anapparatus which is simple in construction and e'liicient in operationr'or indicating at a glance to a subscriber to a telephone, forinstance, the number of coins or tokens necessary to be used within thegiven period in order to enable the minimum amount oi the toll or rentalto be paid by ,him at the end of the period, thereby enabling' thesubscriber to get the greatest amount of benelit from the use andenjoyment of the telephone for the minimum amount of rental or tollpaid.' Y

Other objects and purposes of the invention will appear more fullyhereinafter.

.The invention consists, substantially, in the construction,combination, location, and arrangement o'l parts, all as will be morefully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying' drawings, andlinally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying' drawings and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure l is a view in front elevationoi a form oi apparatus embodying the principles oi my invention. Fig. 2is a longitudinal central section of the same on the line 2 2 ol Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionon the line 3 3, Fig. l, looking in the direction ot' 4the arrows. Fig.L is a view illustrating a development oi' the surface oi thecylindrical tube or casing employed in connection with the principles ofmy invention.

The same part is designated by the same referencesign wherever it occursthroughout the several views.

Reference-sign A designates a supporting or base plate of suitableconstruction and arn rangement lior facilitating the attachment oi theVdevice to a wall or other convenient suplport and designed to be placed1n position ir convenient relation with respect to the telephone orother apparatus in connection with which the device is to be employed.

B designates a front plate having angularly-turned ends C D, adapted tobe secured or attached to the base-plate Ain any suitable or convenientmanner, as, for instance, by means of the tenons E, (indicated in dottedlines in Figs. 2 and 3,) thereby forming a receptacle to receive acylindrical casing F. The front plate B is provided with a longitudinalslot or opening G throughout the length thereof, and theangularly-turned end C is provided with a circular opening to receiveone end of the cylindrical casing F to form a journal-bearing for suchcylindrical casing. As shown and preferably, the end of the cylindricalcasing F, which is received in the opening in the end plate C, ispreferably turned down to form a shoulder, as indicated at H, Fig. 2,the reduced portion of such casing being journaled in the cylindricalopening in end plate C. Intermediate its ends the cylindrical casing isprovided with a series of longitudinal slots J of varying length, asindicated in the development of the cylindrical surface of said casingin Fig. 4, according to the number of days in each month of the year,and each of said longitudinal slots J may correspond with a' month ofthe year, as indicated by the legends at the lower ends of said slots.For instance, thirteen slots J are provided, one for each month of theyear eX- cept February, which month is provided with two in order toaccommodate the twentyeight days of the ordinary month of FebruaryT orthe twenty-nine days of the month in a leapyear. On the front plate Band adjacent to the longitudinal slot Gr therein are arranged numberscorresponding to the days of the month. A convenient arrangement, towhich, however, I do not desire to be limited or restricted, isshown,.in which the odd numbers are on one side of the slot and the evennumbers on the other side, thus enabling the slot to be of shorterlength without crowding the numbers than is possible otherwise.

K designates a slide arranged to be received in and guided by the frontplate B of the receptacle for movement therealong and in cooperativerelation with respect to the designations of the days of the month. Thisslideplate is provided with openings, (indicated at L,) through whichthe numbers designating the days of the month on the front plate B maybe disclosed when said slide K is brought into proper and suitableregister therewith. For instance, as shown in Fig. l, the slide K is inposition to disclose number l on the front plate B, corresponding' tothe iirst day of a month. The cylindrical casing F, having one endjournaled in the opening' in the end plate C, is free to be axiallyrevolved, so as to bring any desired slot J therein into register withthe slot G in the front plate B,

so as to disclose therethrough the name of the month corresponding tothe particular slot J of casing F, which has been brought into registerwith the slot G. The slide K carries a stop device, which may be of anysuitable construction and arrangement, the purpose and mode of operationof which will presently be more fully described. In the particular formshown, to which, however, the invention is not to be limited orrestricted, this stop device comprises a spring-pressed pin M, havingits end arranged to extend through the slots G and J, whichever one ofthe latter is in register with the -slot G, and into the interior of thecylindrical casing a spring or other suitable means, (indicated at N,)serving to normally project or press said pin into said casing, butcapable of being withdrawn by hand or otherwise against the action ofthe spring or other yielding device, as will be apparent. Coins, slugs,or other tokens O are arranged to be received within the cylindricalcasing F and may be normally pressed vor fed in said casing toward theopen end thereof. A convenient arrangement is'shown, but to which myinvention is not to be limited or restricted, wherein a follower-plate Pis arranged within the cylindrical casing F with a spring Q actingthereon and normally tending to press said follower-plate toward theopen end of the cylindrical casing, and the coins, slugs, or tokens Oare arranged to be received within the cylindrical casing and to restupon or to be engaged by thefollower-plate P and to be forced therebyyieldingly toward the open end of said casing. rIhe followerplate P maybe moved against the action of the spring Q, manually or otherwise, inany convenient manner-as, for instance, by means of a rod or otherconnection R, connected thereto and extending through the casingand itscontaining-receptacle, as clearly shown in the drawings. Adjacent to theopen end of the cylindrical casing is a slotted plate S, raised above orbeyond the open end of the casing and its receptacle a suiiicientdistance to accommodate a single coin, slug, or token, and against whichthe column of coins, slugs, or tokens contained in the cylindricalcasing is pressed, thereby enabling the first coin, slug, or token ofthecolumn to be readily removed from the casing by hand. its place beingimmediately supplied by the next coin, slug, or token of the columnbeing pressed against the plate S.

The manner of using the device above described is as follows: Suppose acollection is made by an employee of the telephone company at asubscribers station on the first day of January or that the given periodwithin which a minimum of toll or rental is to be paid begins on thefirst day of January. The casing F is lled with coins, slugs, or othertokens to its capacity. The pin M of slide Kis withdrawn and said slideis permitted to descend IOO IIO

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until the ligure 1 i on the :trontplate B is dis closed through anopening L of said slide, this being the limit 'ott' movement of theslide in one direction. The casing F is then axially rotated until theslot J, corresponding to the month. oi' January, is suoli thatthirty-one coins, slugs, or tokens will occupy the space between thepoint marked l on the front plate B and the end of the slot J nearestthe open or delivery end of the casing. The pin M is then released orthe end thereof projected into the casing Fand between adjacent coins,slugs, or tokens opposite such end, as

clearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby forming a stop device carried by thecolumn of coins, slugs, or tokens. The subscriber is required to deposita certain average of coins, slugs, or tokens per day-say, for instance,one each day. i/Vhen the subscriber desires to make a call, the coin atthe end of the column andy which is held against the end plate S isremoved from the casing and deposited in the coin-controlled apparatusto be operated thereby. Under the inliuence of the means which press thecolumn oi' coins or tokens toward the open end of the casing such columnis advanced the extent of the coin or token removed, thereby carryingthe stop device along with it. The subscriber continues from day to dayto remove the coins or tokens from the end of the column and deposit thesame in the coin-controlled apparatus, according to hisinclination ornecessities, the removal of each coin, slug, or tokenv serving toadvance the stop device along with the `advancing column until inallythe stop device or pin M engages the limit oi' the slot J in which ittravels. When this point is reached, it will be seen `at a glance thatthe subscriber has used the coin-controlled apparatus thirty-one timesduring the month of January, and hence has deposited the minimum amountrequired to be deposited during that month. 1t is also evident that it'the coin-controlled apparatus is not used on an average of once for eachday the position of the stop device along the slot G- in the front plateB will disclose to the subscriber that he has not used thecoin-controlled apparatus to the extent required for the minimum forwhich he will be required to pay, thereby enabling1 the subscriber touse the coin-controlled` apparatus Within the time limit or period asuiiicient number of times to satisfy the minimum requirement. On theother hand, the device Will also disclose to the subscriber thetact,i'1l such be the case, that as the expiration oi" the period orlimit of time approaches and he has used the slot-controlled apparatusmore lavishly than is necessary or in excess of the general averagerequired to make up the minimum he can be more conservative andcarefulin using the apparatus during the remaining portion of the timeor period without overpaying the amount oi' the minimum required to bepaid as toll or rental for the apparatus.` li' the coin-controlledaigiparatus 1s used a number of times m excess of the number of days inthe month of January, `for instance,

the further use of thecln'onological monitor will be arrested in thecase ot' the illustration above given When thirty-onecoins, slugs, ortokens have been removed, and the further removal of such coins, slugs,or tokens from the easingwill be arrested until the stop device isreleased and permitted to return to its initial position or to aposition farther removed i'rom the end of the slot in which it travels.In such case or at the beginning' oi the following` or succeeding monthsuch stop device is returned to its initial position or limitof movementand again projected into the column of coins, slugs, or tokens, and thecasing F is axially revolved or rotated so as to bring the next slot Jor the slot corresponding to the month of February into register withthe slot G- in the front plate and the operation continues.

While I have described the apparatus orits operation where one call oruse oi the coincontrolled apparatus lor each day is sullicient, it isobvious that the same principle would apply where the coin-controlledapparatus is required to be used two or more times on an average perday, and while l have described the use of the device in connection withacoincontrolled telephone it is obvious that the device not to heconiined to such use, as it is equally well adapted tor use inconnection with other coin-controlled machines and in other relations asa chronological monitor.

In the drawings I have shown the device so arranged as that the columno't' coins, slugs, or the like are pressed ul'iwardly and deliv-` eredfrom the upper end ot the cylindrical casing.' l do notdesire, however,to be limited in thisl respect and the foregoingdescription is not solimited.

It will be observed that the device is ex eeedingly simple in itsconstruction and inexpensive ot manufacture. The parts may readily bemade of aluminimn or other light and cheap material and may be madeornamental or placed in any inconspicuous place, it desired, inconvenient position for use. Of course it will be understood that it isnot necessary to employ coins of money value, as slugs or other tokensmay be employed in lieu thereof, the subscriber settling for the numberof times the slot-machine is used, whether such machine be operated by amoney coin or a slug or other token.

In order to facilitate access to the cylindrical casing to eil'ect theaxial rotation thereot' to bring theslots J therein corresponding to themonths ot' the year into registering relation with respect to the slotin the 'front plate, the sides ol the front plate may be beveled or cutaway at some convenientpoint, as indicated atT, Fig. l, to enable thecylin- IOO IIR'

drical casing F to be grasped between the fingers, and, if desired andin order to prevent lateral displacement of the cylindrical casingwithin its containing-receptacle, pins or projections W may be employedin the end plate or iiange D in such relation with respect to thecylindrical casing as to hold the same in centered position. If desired,a stop V may be employed to limit the position of the slide K when inits initial position, as shown in Fig. l.

It is obvious that many variations in the details of construction andarrangement would readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in theart and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do notdesire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details ofconstruction and arrangement shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention'and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new anduseful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. In a chronological monitor for use in connection with coin-controlledmachines and for other purposes, a retainer to receive a column ofcoins, slugs or tokens, and means for constantly pressing such columntoward the delivery end of said retainer. and a stop device mounted foradjustment to various points with reference to thelength of such column,as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a retainer to receive acolumn of coins, slugs or tokens, and means for yieldingly pressing saidcolumn toward the delivery end ofthe retainer, in combination with astop device mounted for adjustment to various points with reference tothe length of such column, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a slotted casing adapted toreceive a column of coins, slugs or tokens therein, and means normallyoperating to press said column toward the delivery end of said casing,in combination with astop device arranged to operate through the slot insaid casing and mounted for adjustment to various points with referenceto the length of said column, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. ln an apparatus of the class described, a casing having slotscorresponding in number to the months of the year and of a lengthvarying according to the number of days in each month of the year andadapted to receive a column of coins, slugs or tokens, and meansnormally operating to press said column toward the delivery end of saidcasing, in combination with a stop device arranged to opcrate through aslot of said casing and connected to move with said column, as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical casing havinglongitudinal slots therein corresponding to the months of the year, saidslots varying in length according' to the number of days in each month,said casing adapted to receive a column of coins, slugs, tokens or thelike, and means operating to normally press said column toward thedelivery end of said casing, in combination with a stop device arrangedto be detachably connected to move with the column throughaslot of saidcasing, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical casing having'longitudinal slots formed therein corresponding in number to the numberof months in the year and of a length corresponding to the number ofdays in each month, said casing arranged to receive a column of coins,slugs or tokens, in combination with a detachable stop device arrangedto extend through a slot inl said casing for connection with the columnto move therewith, said casing being rotarily mounted whereby it may bebrought into position to register any one of the slots w'th said lockingdevice, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing arranged to receive'coins, slugs or tokens, means operating to normally press said coins,slugs or tokens toward the delivery end of said casing, a stop devicemounted for adjustment to various points with reference to the length ofsaid coins, slugs or tokens,.

and a guide for said stop device, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a device of the class described, a casing to receive coins, slugsor tokens, means operating to normally press said coins, slugs or tokenstoward the' delivery end of said casing, in combination with a stopdevice arranged to be detachably connected to move with said coins,slugs or tokens, and means cooperating therewith to arrest the movementof said coins, slugs or tokens upon attaining a limit of movement, asand for the purpose set forth.

9. In a device ofr the class described, a casing to receive coins, slugsor tokens, means operating to normally press said coins, slugs or tokenstoward the delivery end of said casing, in combination with a stopdevice arranged to be detachably connected to move with said coins,slugs or tokens, means coperating therewith to arrest the movement ofsaid coins, slugs or tokens upon attaining a limit of movement, and aguide for said stop device, as and for the purpose set forth.

l0. In a device of the class described, a frame forming a receptacle, acasing mounted in said frame and adapted to receive a column of coins,slugs or tokens, means for normally pressing said column toward thedelivery end of said casing, and a stop device mounted to slide uponsaid frame and adjustable to various points with reference to the lengthof said column, as and for the purpose set forth.

ll. In a device of the class described, a frame forming a receptacle, aslotted casing TOO the delivery end of said casing, and a stop de vicemounted to slide upon said frame and arranged to be detaehably projectedthrough the slot in said easing for connection to move with said column,as and for the purpose set forth.

12. ,ln a device ofthe class described a front plate having lateralextensions forming a receptacle, a casing mounted to revolve in saidreceptacle and adapted to receive a column of coins, slugs or tokens,and means for moving' said column toward the delivery end of saidcasing, in combination with a stop device con nected to move with saidcolumn, and means arranged to be engaged by said stop for arresting themovement of said column at predetermined points, as and for the purpose'set forth.

13. In adevice of the class described., a front plate having' lateralend extensions, a cylindrical casing supported at one end upon one ofsaid end extensions and at the other end journaled in the otherl of saidend extensions, said easing adapted to receive a column of coins, slugsor tokens, and a stop device connected to move with said column, andmeans cooperating with said stop device for arresting the movement ofsaid column, as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a device of the class described, a plate having end extensionsforming a receptacle, in combination With a cylindrical casing receivedin said receptacle and having one end journaled in one of said endextensions, said casing adapted to receive a column of coins, slugs ortokens, and means operating to normally press said column toward thedelivery end of said casing, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a device of the class described, a casing to receive a column ofcoins, slugs or tokens, a follower arranged in said casing, meansoperating to normally press said follower toward one end of said casingto move said column toWard such end, in combination with a stop devicearranged to be detachablyconnected to said column to move therewith, andmeans cooperating with said stop device for arresting the movementthereof at predetermined limits, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frontplate graduated according' to the number of days contained in a month, aslide operating along said plate, a casing adapted to receive a columnof coins, slugs or tokens, said casing having longitud inal slotscorresponding in number to the number of months in the year, said slotsvarying in length according' to the number of days in each month, and adetachable stop device carried by said slide and arranged to projectthrough a slot in said casing for connection with said column to movefor the purpose set forth. i

17. ln a device of the class described, a front plate Yhaving'graduations corresponding to the number of days in a month, a slidecoperating therewith, a easing rotarily mounted and therewith, as andhaving longitudinal slots corresponding in number to the number ofmonths in a year, said slots varying in length according' to the numberof days in each month, and a stop device carried by said slide andarranged to be detachably projected through a slot in said casing forconnection to move with said column, as and for the purpose setforth.

18. In a device of the class described, abaseplate, a front plate havingangular end extensions connected to said base-plate and forming areceptacle, a cylindrical casing arranged to be received in saidreceptacle, said front plate being' longitudinally slotted, a slidemounted to move upon said front plate, said casing be-m inglongitudinally slotted and adapted to receive therein a column ot coins,slugs or tokens, means operating to normally press said column towardthe delivery end of said casing, a delivery-plate arranged adjacent theopen or delivery end of said casing, and a stop device operating'through a slot in said casing `for connection to move with said columnwhereby when said stop device reaches the limit of the slot tl'n'oughwhich it operates, further movement of said column toward the deliveryend of the casing is arrested, as and for the purpose set forth.

1S). ln a device oil the class described, a casing adapted to receive acolumn of coins, slugs or tokens, said, casing being slottedlongitudinally, the column of coins, slugs or tokens and said easingbeing relatively movable, and means adjustably mounted with reference tothe length of such column to indicate the extent of such relativemovement, as and for the purpose set forth.

20. ln a device of the class described, a casing having longitudinalslots corresponding to the months of the year and varying in lengthaccording' to the number of days contained in a month, said casingadapted to receive a column of coins, slugs or tokens, in combinationwith a plate graduated according' to the nurnber of days in a month, thecoins, slugs or tokens being movable in said casing, and means arrangedto move with the column of coins, slugs or tokens and cooperating withthe graduations of said plate, said means being arrested at theextremity of the slot corresponding to a selected month, as and for thepurpose set forth.

21. In a device of the class described, a retainer to receive a columnof coins, slugs or tokens, means for constantly maintaining' a coin ortoken at the delivery end of said retainer, and an adjustable stopdevice associated with the column of coins, slugs or tokens andoperating to variably arrest the delivery IOO IIO

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of said coins, slugs or tokens, as and for the purpose set forth.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, a retainer to receive acolumn of coins, slugs or tokens, means for constantly maintaining thecolumn of coins, slugs or tokens pressed toward the delivery end of saidretainer, in combination With an indicating device to indicate theremoval of coins or slugs from or the insertion of same in saidretainer, said indicating device being adjustable to variable pointswith reference to the column of coins, slugs or tokens, as and Jfor thepurpose set forth.

23. In an apparatus of the class described, a retainer to receive acolumn of coins, slugs or FRED P. GORIN.

Witnesses:

GHAs. H. SEEM, S. E. DARBY.

